cachyos/docs/desktop/fonts-and-apps.md

Fonts and default apps

Fontconfig monospace override to Victor Mono Nerd Font, the Nerd Font packages, and the XDG default-application table.

Two small files set system-wide defaults: fonts.conf picks the monospace font, and mimeapps.list picks which application opens each file type and URL scheme.

Note

Linux desktop and laptop roles only. .chezmoiignore.tmpl skips ~/.config/fontconfig/** and ~/.config/mimeapps.list on other roles.

Fontconfig

Source (repo)	Target
dot_config/fontconfig/fonts.conf	~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf

~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf

<fontconfig>
  <match target="pattern">
    <test name="family" qual="any">
      <string>monospace</string>
    </test>
    <edit name="family" mode="prepend_first" binding="strong">
      <string>VictorMono Nerd Font</string>
    </edit>
  </match>
</fontconfig>

Any font request that includes the generic monospace family gets VictorMono Nerd Font added to the front of its family list (prepend_first) with strong binding. Apps that ask for "monospace" therefore render in Victor Mono with Nerd Font glyphs, and fall back through fontconfig's normal monospace list if a glyph is missing. The file does not configure sans/serif families, hinting, antialiasing, or subpixel rendering. Those stay at system defaults.

Some tools set their own fonts. The terminals set fonts in their own configs (see kitty).

Font packages

Victor Mono Nerd Font is installed on every role (including server) by run_onchange_before_10-packages.sh.tmpl from .chezmoidata/packages.yaml, not only on desktop roles:

Package: ttf-victor-mono-nerd, from pacman (packages.arch.pacman).

fonts.conf is desktop/laptop only; the font package is also installed on server.

Default applications

Source (repo)	Target
dot_config/mimeapps.list	~/.config/mimeapps.list

mimeapps.list is the XDG file that xdg-open, GTK/Qt file dialogs, and browsers use to choose a handler. [Default Applications] sets the preferred handler. [Added Associations] adds entries to "Open with" lists.

Default applications

Group	MIME types / schemes	Handler (.desktop)
Text and scripts	text/plain, text/x-shellscript, text/x-python, text/x-script.python	vim.desktop
Notes	text/markdown, application/x-obsidian-canvas, application/x-obsidian-base, x-scheme-handler/obsidian	obsidian.desktop (obsidian from packages.arch.desktop.pacman)
Web pages	text/html, application/xhtml+xml, application/x-extension-htm, -html, -shtml, -xhtml, -xht	brave-origin.desktop
Web links	x-scheme-handler/http, https, chrome	brave-origin.desktop
Browser internals	x-scheme-handler/about, unknown	chromium.desktop
PDF	application/pdf	brave-origin.desktop
Directories	inode/directory	io.github.lgse.Strata.desktop (strata, which also registers the org.freedesktop.FileManager1 service for "Open file location" and serves the portal file chooser)
Mail	x-scheme-handler/mailto, fastmail	com.fastmail.Fastmail.desktop (fastmail from packages.arch.desktop.aur)
Windows executables	application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable	wine.desktop
AI tools	x-scheme-handler/claude	com.anthropic.Claude.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/claude-cli	claude-code-url-handler.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/opencode	ai.opencode.desktop.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/antigravity	antigravity.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/piebald	piebald-handler.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/openhuman	OpenHuman-handler.desktop
Productivity	x-scheme-handler/todoist, com.todoist	todoist.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/notion	notion.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/anytype	anytype.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/tolaria	tolaria-handler.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/tldraw-offline	tldraw-offline.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/figma	figma-linux.desktop
Chat	x-scheme-handler/slack	slack.desktop
	x-scheme-handler/discord-647066573147996160	discord-647066573147996161.desktop
Feeds	x-scheme-handler/follow, folo	folo.desktop

Added associations

MIME types / schemes	Also offered
http, https, chrome schemes; text/html, application/xhtml+xml, and the x-extension-* web types	brave-origin.desktop, userapp-Floorp-8MTFP3.desktop
x-scheme-handler/mailto	userapp-Evolution-PCEYQ4.desktop
application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable	wine.desktop
application/pdf	brave-origin.desktop
x-scheme-handler/opencode	ai.opencode.desktop.desktop

The added mail association is Evolution, but the default mail handler is the Fastmail app.

Tip

In symlink mode, ~/.config/mimeapps.list is a symlink into the repo. When xdg-mime default or a "set as default" dialog updates it, the tool either writes through the symlink and edits the repo file directly, or replaces the symlink with a regular file. Check git status or chezmoi status after changing defaults.

Related

• Umbriel: the compositor these defaults serve.
• Installation: role selection that decides whether this layer applies.